We begin our survey of covenant theology with a consideration of that covenant from which all other biblical covenants flow: the covenant of redemption. The covenant of redemption is essentially God’s blueprint for our salvation. Just as a house begins with a plan of meticulous engineering and technical design, so also did our redemption originate […]
A staple in international, orthodox Calvinism from the opening days of the Protestant Reformation has been the theological distinction between the “Law” and the “Gospel.” What does this distinction mean, and how important is it? Simply put, it contrasts two divinely ordained ways to the obtainment of life eternal, one by meritorious works (i.e., by […]
Hoeksema, Homer C. Unfolding Covenant History: An Exposition of the Old Testament. Volumes 1-4. Edited by Mark H. Hoeksema. Grandville, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2000-2003. [For more information contact email@rfpa.org] Reviewed by Rev. Jerome Julien. The first four volumes of this fine set are now ready. They are the work of the late Professor […]
Rightly, we individually and corporately confess what Scripture teaches after a careful, exegetical study and elucidation of the text of Scripture, not because it is the view of our Reformed forebears. Having reflected upon the text of Scripture, we may or may not agree with the teachings of historic, confessional Reformed dogmatics. It is the […]
There is a right way and a wrong way to use the precious doctrine of the covenant. The right way is to stress the particular spiritual advantages which our covenant children enjoy. Priceless is the Christian upbringing; the hearing from infancy on about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the salvation God provided […]
So often we sing that God’s grace is truly amazing. Grace is the reason for our salvation and the reason for our gratitude to our infinitely gracious Triune God. In Article 17 of the Belgic Confession, we recognize that we are now steeped in God’s wonderful saving grace. We are embarking on a short journey, […]
II Timothy 2:15 reads as follows: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Our Arminian Brothers and Sisters have historically taken this passage and literally “divided up” God’s Word into several “dispensations”. Dispensations were largely popularized in the 1909 edition of […]
What Is Covenant Theology, and Why Should I Care? Covenant. As anyone who has read the Bible knows, that word seems to be one of God’s favorites. Yet it is more than just a word that appears frequently (more than three hundred times); it is one of the most important themes of sacred Scripture. The […]